South Cyprus Claims Interference in Air Traffic Communications; Union Denies Allegations

Director of the Presidential Press Office Victor Papadopoulos said information had been received from relevant countries suggesting that air traffic communications were disrupted as aircraft carrying the delegations approached Cyprus ahead of an informal EU Defence Ministers’ meeting.

Papadopoulos said the issue would be taken to relevant international bodies, adding that Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas would brief EU High Representative Kaja Kallas and European counterparts.

Greek Cypriot media reports claimed that communication between Larnaca Air Traffic Control and an aircraft carrying Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias was interfered with by Ercan Airport control tower, and that similar incidents affected French and Dutch flights. The reports also alleged that two F-16 jets took off from Northern Cyprus and monitored the aircraft from a distance.

The Air Traffic Controllers’ Union rejected the claims.

Union President Kürşad Hüdaverdioğlu told Cyprus Mail that the incident was being misrepresented as “airspace harassment” and described the reports as politically driven.

He said the F-16 aircraft mentioned in the reports had taken off due to an emergency situation and continued flight operations over the northern part of the island. He added that no boundary violations occurred and that there was no harassment involved.

Six Turkish F-16 jets were deployed to Ercan Airport in March following the arrival of an Iranian-made drone in Cyprus airspace, later reinforced by Hisar-A air defence systems. The move was criticised by Greece, while Turkey has said the deployment was related to the security of the TRNC.

The latest incident comes amid renewed tensions over military activity and airspace control on the island during the EU Defence Ministers’ informal meeting.